Binge Drinking Essay

1045 words - 5 pages

Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Binge drinking has a variety of negative side effects, both short and long term, personal, and external. There are a multitude of causes for binge drinking. Among them are: Pleasure seeking, attempting to establish a macho image to their peers (mostly men do this), using alcohol has a tool for feeling more socially comfortable, peer pressure, trying to rebel, curiosity, escapism and genetics.
Binge drinking is most commonly associated with college, and sometimes high school life. It is during this period that the majority of binge drinking occurs, mainly because of the accompanying party culture. Binge drinking is the most serious health related problem on college campuses. Binge drinking is often born from casual drinking here, partially due to the participants lacking the self-control needed to regulate their consumption. Another influence many college students face is their peers pressuring them to consume excess alcohol. Other than its effects on their bodies binge drinking also has other adverse effects. Binge drinking students are more prone to poor academic performance, fighting, memory loss, sexually violence and of course, severe hangovers. This behavior isn’t exclusive to young adults though. “The CDC found that more than 38 million Americans binge drink four times a month—consuming an average of eight drinks each time. And it’s not just young adults. Although it is more common between the ages of 18-34, those 65 and older reportedly binge drink more often—five to six times a month.” Cappon, Colleen. FoxNews.com.
Escapism is another source of binge drinking. Many people with traumatic past or current experiences take up drinking in an attempt to numb their emotional pain. However, this doesn’t always work. In fact, binge drinking can make it harder to forget about whatever may be troubling you at the time, it actually engraves those memories deeper into one’s mind.
“‘Usually, when we talk about learning and memory, we're talking about conscious memory.’Alcohol diminishes our ability to hold on to pieces of information like your colleague's name, or the definition of a word, or where you parked your car this morning. 'But our subconscious is learning and remembering too, and alcohol may actually increase our capacity to learn, or "conditionability", at that level.' Mr. Morikawa's study, results of which were published last month in The Journal of Neuroscience, found that repeated exposure to ethanol enhances synaptic plasticity in a key area in the brain. When people drink alcohol or take drugs, the subconscious is not only learning to consume more but becoming more receptive to forming subconscious memories and habits with respect to food, music, even people and social situations.” Daily Mail Reporter. DailyMail.co.uk
This creates a vicious cycle of binge drinking in an unattainable goal of relief from...

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